Congressman Ben Cline announced the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Virginia’s Sixth District. Brooke Justus, an 11th-grade student at the Burton Center for Arts and Technology in Salem, was recognized for her artwork titled “A Roanoke Forest.” Her piece will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a year.
The competition is part of a national initiative to highlight high school students’ creativity and talent. In Virginia’s Sixth District, several students submitted notable works. Besides the winning entry, artworks from three runners-up will be showcased in Congressman Cline’s district offices.
Brooke traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with Congressman Cline and view her artwork on display at the U.S. Capitol. Congressman Cline commented, “Each year, the Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity to recognize the talent of students across Virginia’s Sixth District, and Brooke’s piece, ‘A Roanoke Forest,’ is a proud representation of our region.” He added that it was a pleasure meeting her and seeing her work displayed for visitors nationwide.
The winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition are as follows:
First Place: Brooke Justus
School: 11th Grade, Burton Center for Arts and Technology
Title: “A Roanoke Forest”
Southern Regional Runner-Up: Maddie Grow
School: 10th Grade, Grow Classical School
Title: “Downtown Lexington”
Central Regional Runner-Up: Claudia Allemeier
School: 11th Grade, Harrisonburg High School
Title: “Crowned Cranes”
Northern Regional Runner-Up: Mariska Sharma
School: 9th Grade, John Handley High School
Title: “Vivaldi”
For more information about the Congressional Art Competition, click here.
